Wine routes in Spain: a world of creative activities

Winery

Would you like to discover everything that surrounds the world of wine? Then you are in luck, because if you come to Spain, not only can you explore the wine routes, but you will also find a wide array of alternative options. Go horse riding through vineyards, visit traditional wineries, learn about the art of tasting, or relax with wine therapy treatments. Let the amazing variety of delicious wines thrill your senses.

There are many wine routes in Spain. They will take you to destinations rich in culture and gastronomic tradition. They all offer activities, landscapes and traditional fiestas that will make your trip a unique experience. Would you like to learn to distinguish between fruity and sparkling wines? Then visit the wineries on these routes. They offer tasting courses for beginners with wine experts. Hiking, cookery workshops and visits to spa resorts are three more activities of many you will be surprised to find on these wine routes.

Why not sample wines accompanied by a delicious tapa of ham on the Penedès wine and cava route, where you can also enjoy entertaining themed dinners? On the Montilla-Moriles wine route you can take part in olive oil tasting sessions, while in Tenerife, on the Tenerife Wine Route, you have the chance to try a potato tasting session or a gastronomic workshop at the Monje Winery. Come and give your sense of smell and your palate a real treat.

Wine culture

If you visit the many museums specialising in this field, you will see for yourself that wine is a primordial element of Spanish culture. From the Catalonia Wine Culture Museum (VINSEUM), to the “La Baranda” House of Wine in Tacoronte and the “Villa Lucía” Centre in Álava, you will love the pleasant surprises that await you. They will show you the ritual of wine production, the machinery used, and you can buy presents to take away with you.

If you would like to know more about the culture of each region, there are guided routes to the historic centres of towns and to the many vineyards and wineries. Can you imagine following in the footsteps of Don Quixote? You can do so exploring the windmills and vineyards of the La Mancha route. We would also suggest a dramatised trip to the historic sites and Modernist buildings of the Alt Penedès region (Penedès route), a visit to the country houses of the Rías Baixas route or a tour of where wine barrels are kept on the Montilla-Moriles route.

Sport and health

If you want to tone up your body after savouring these delicious wines, then Spain is your destination too. Sports lovers can go hiking here, surrounded by the beautiful colours of the vineyards. From the cultivated lands of Foix de Alt Penedès Park to the stunning views of Sierra de El Carche Regional Reserve in Murcia (on the Jumilla route), the laurisilva forest of Monte de Agua García on the route in Tenerife, or the canyons to be found in the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Nature Reserve on the Somontano route; Spain's countryside is sure to offer you a pleasant surprise.

Fancy a few more options? On the Navarre wine route they organise outings on foot, on horseback or by bicycle through the vineyards; on the Tenerife route, meanwhile, you can go scuba diving, paragliding, play golf or go swimming on black sand beaches. And after so much activity, what better than rest and relaxation at a spa? We suggest the spa resorts at La Toja on the Rías Baixas route or the wine therapy treatments available on the Rioja Alavesa route. Bathe in wine and enjoy a massage with oil. Your body will love it.

Enjoy the fiesta

A very special time to sample Spanish wines is during the wine harvest fiesta, normally held between the months of July and October. If you come at this time, you can see flamenco shows, horse races, and witness the traditional treading of grapes. You can also ride in a horse and cart, in the Sierra de Montilla region, for example.

For the more enterprising, on itineraries like the Jumilla route you can do interesting activities at any time of year, such as making homemade soap, olive collecting or pottery. While you take part in such activities, you can choose your accommodation from stately houses, traditional farmsteads, 16th-century farmhouses, country hotels and Modernist buildings with jacuzzi and sauna. Comfort and tradition close at hand.

Whether you come as a family, with friends or colleagues, you can enjoy all these ideas according to your tastes. Whichever you choose, you will learn to savour wine, you will discover the harmonious landscapes of the vineyards and you will live a unique experience.